Murder trial Thursday for Staunton man accused of killing baby

STAUNTON - A man charged with second-degree murder in the 2016 death of his infant son is set to go on trial Thursday in Staunton Circuit Court.

Ronald W. Purnell, 30, of Staunton, is accused of killing 1-month-old Michael L. Purnell in June of 2016.

A pathologist said Michael Purnell died from blunt-force trauma to the head that was so severe it rivaled injuries from a car accident or a fall from a 12-story building, according to testimony at a preliminary hearing.

After the boy died, Purnell went shopping for a car stereo system and then grabbed a bite to eat at a Red Robin restaurant in Charlottesville because he'd never tried its food before, testimony showed.

Less than three months before the baby's death, Purnell also had a 10-month-old son who died unexpectedly.

Evidence

On June 29, 2016, Staunton police responded to 1801 Churchville Avenue on a report concerning an unresponsive infant. Officer Casey Parady said she went into a bedroom where she found Ronald Purnell on a bed giving the baby chest compressions with two fingers. She said the infant was improperly propped up on a pillow as Purnell performed CPR.

Ronald W. Purnell(Photo: Submitted)

Parady took over CPR for the infant, who was then rushed to Augusta Health before being airlifted to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.

Parady testified she noticed dried blood around the baby's nose. Another officer said he found a blanket with bloodstains.

Purnell told police he was sleeping with the 1-month-old baby cradled underneath his arm and said when he awoke the child was not breathing.

The baby died the next day.

A doctor from the medical examiner's office in Roanoke testified the 1-month old had a healing fracture on his head from a past wound, as well as seven fresh broken ribs and three previous broken ribs that were also on the mend.

Purnell lost another son

Less than three months before the death of Purnell's 1-month-old son, in March of 2016 his 10-month-old son died at his Churchville Avenue home.

In a previous interview, the boy's mother said the initial cause of death for Christopher W. Dipietro was sudden infant death syndrome.

In 2016, the Staunton Police Department said there was not an ongoing criminal investigation into the boy's death, but said the case remained open pending a full report from the medical examiner's office.